Unnatural base pair systems for DNA/RNA-based biotechnology.

TL;DR: This Perspective highlightsphiphilic molecules based on nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides, their synthesis, supramolecular organization as well as their applications in the field of biotechnology.

TL;DR: Crystal structures of a dS-Cu-dS base pair inside a polymerase show that reversible chemistry is possible directly inside the polymerase, which enables the efficient copying of the inorganic crosslink and opens up the possibility of replicating and amplifying artificial inorganic DNA nanostructures by extending the genetic alphabet.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize the developments in establishing a relationship between a polymer's sequence and its properties, and focus on one sequence-specific polymer system in particular: N-substituted glycines or polypeptoids.

TL;DR: A new pair between 7-(2-thienyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and 2-nitropyrrole, which functions in DNA amplification, more selectively pairs with Ds in replication than another previously reported pairing partner, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (Pa).

TL;DR: D-iso-G was found at the correct position in the product oligonucleotide by a “nearest-neighbor” analysis9 and by the “minus” sequencing method of Sanger to determine the specificity with which the new bases pair.

TL;DR: This coupled transcription–translation system will permit the efficient synthesis of proteins with a tyrosine analog at the desired position in an Escherichia coli cell-free system.

TL;DR: It is established that hydrogen bonds in a base pair are not absolutely required for efficient nucleotide insertion, adding support to the idea that shape complementarity may play as important a role in replication as base–base hydrogen bonds.

TL;DR: A critical comparison of the third base pair candidates is provided and the further work required to expand the genetic alphabet is discussed.